Doom Eternal adds a kernel-mode driver for Denuvo anti-cheat

The latest Doom Eternal update is here, and finally adds promised features like – ah, who am I kidding. This is the update that adds Denuvo anti-cheat to the PC version of the game, and while id has been up front about what the anti-cheat service does, players are extremely concerned that the implementation is far too invasive.

id says that the anti-cheat driver launches with the game and closes with the game, and “does not take screenshots, scan your file system, or stream shellcode from the internet”. The anti-cheat can be removed directly from your ‘add or remove programs’ box in windows, but that’ll prevent you from playing the newly-introduced Battlemode multiplayer.

Publisher Bethesda says that you should be able to continue playing single-player without the anti-cheat software installed, though players have found that’s not the case – hopefully that side of the issue, at least, will be fixed soon. Players on Linux have also reported that the anti-cheat driver has broken compatibility through Steam’s Proton layer.